Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-06-02
Poisonous Plants of the Farm.


By Prof. George G. Croft, of Bucknen University,
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
On many farms, and about the farm
buildings there are plants both wild and
in cultivation which are poisonous to
man and TO bsast. 1t may be of value
to some to have them pointed out.
POISONOUS WILD PLANTS.
The May,Apple (PodoDhyllum) Is
cnmns0a growing In rich woods and in
adjacent fence corners. The fruit, W hen
ripe. is eaten by boys. but the root and
leaves are poisonous. The plant bears
large white flower, and has two large
shield-shaped leaves, which are some-
times gathered for greens with fatal
results. Other common names for the
plant are, mandrake, wild lemon, rac+
coon berry. and hog apple.
Poison Vine Called also poison Ivy
and poison oak) is common climbing
plant found on old fences. and on trees.
clinging to these by numerous wiry
rootlets which the plant throws out,and
into the object over which 1t climbs.
This plant somewhat resembles the Vir-
giDia creepsr, but may be known by
five-fold leaf, while the leaf of the pois>
on vine is threefold. This plant poisons
many persons. il they simply touch the
leaves, producing distressing erup
tion OF the skin. The effects are worse
in the morning when the dew is on the
leaves
The Poison Sumach (poisOn elder or
swamy dogwoodl belongs to the same
family as the last. 1t Is q small bush,
slightly resembling the common elder
bush, having the compound leaves of
sumso- This plant il not 80 common as
the preceding, and grows in swampy
places or along rivulets. It is quite
poisonous to some persons, affecting the
skin as does the poison vine.
Wild Psrships of several kinds are
poisonous. 1t is well to avoid all wild
plants which in leaves or seed.stalk look
like the garden parsnip, and to remove
them from the farm. The garden par
snip sometimes run wild, and then it
too becomes poisonous. These plants
are generally found in low grounds and
along rivulets, though sometimes on
high ground. The -parsnip Is
large, course looking weed. four to eight
feet high, growing in rich, low ground.
This plant is covered with woody hairs.
while the wild parsnip. or cow-bane. is
a smaller plant. and free f,om woody
hairs. The cow.b bane grows in swamps.
and is considered very poisonous to
horned cattle.
Fools Parsley is q small plant, one to
two feet high, found in waste places In
the New England States. and is quite
poisonous. The water hemlock also
belongs to this family; IL grows in
swamps and along creeks. This plant
somewhat resembles sweet cicely," and
the lives of children are sometimes lost
by their eating the roots which are very
poisonous. The common hemlock of
Europe is a smaller plant and is natur
allied in some places; it is also poison
GUS. The only safe rule is to leave all
wild plants looking like wild parsnips
alone.
Indian Tobacco (eye-bright). q small
plant to some extent used in medicine.
is poisonous, but generally men and an
imals cannot eat enough Of 1t to do them
much harm.
Datuna Qhorn apple or jimson weed)
is 3 common, coarse and unsightly weed,
found in rich grounds about the barn
and other farm buildings. 1t has heavy
stems. large, much dentated leaves, large
purplish or white flowers, which have
mawkish Odor There is no danger from
eating the leaves, but the dried seeds. |
found in the dry burr-like pods are very
poisonous and are occasionally eaten by
children with fatal effects. This plant
belongs to the nightshade family and
should be carefully eradicated from the
farm.
Stagger-bush Qambkiil, calfkill, etc.).
is shrub two and three feet high, found
In many woods and on sandy plains.